MONDAY 30 SEPT — DAY 63
Still felt bad, did exercises and rested. Didn’t feel like eating until mid-afternoon. Physical therapist did not show up or call. Leanna had a doctor appointment. I got the expected call from dermatologist that those two skin cancers removed a week ago were (surprise) skin cancer. More surgery was scheduled.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, October 01, 2024 - 08:20 pm: Edit

TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER— DAY 64
Rested, exercised, got no sleep until 7am then slept to 1pm.
Physical therapist called finally but could only come tomorrow when I will be at the cardiologist all day.
Leanna took me on a short drive to supper.
We took the boys outside for the first time in seven weeks; Odin double faked Leanna and escaped but she was able to capture him while I hobbled over and controlled Thor.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, October 02, 2024 - 08:46 pm: Edit

WEDNESDAY 2 OCT — DAY 65
Got no sleep until 7am, but Leanna woke me up at 10am to go to town for lunch and a cardiologist appointment. They removed the heart monitor and did an Eko test. We tried to go to the office but no one was there and we had left our keys at home. Went home, took a nap, exercised, went out for Mexicanish dinner.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, October 04, 2024 - 07:06 pm: Edit

THURSDAY 3 OCT -- DAY 66
Stayed home, still have sleep issues (non-24, a lifetime problem), exercised, rested.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, October 04, 2024 - 07:07 pm: Edit

FRIDAY 4 OCT -- DAY 67
Physical therapy cancelled because of a sick child. I stayed home, exercised, and rested.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 07, 2024 - 11:46 pm: Edit

SATURDAY 5 OCT -- DAY 68
Leanna took me to pizza and then dropped me at the office while she did the grocery shopping. I checked email and contacted a couple of people about business deals, and sent a dozen apologies that my injury would delay a reply to their request.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 07, 2024 - 11:47 pm: Edit

SUNDAY 6 OCT -- DAY 69
Rest and exercise. Leanna cooked roast.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 07, 2024 - 11:48 pm: Edit

MONDAY 7 OCT -- DAY 70
Ten weeks of this. I have about had it with the inability to walk, drive, or work.
Prayers for Israel on the anniversary of a horrific day. This truly is a fight of good vs evil. A just cause does not excuse evil acts.
Rested, exercised. Tomorrow I have skin cancer surgery for the 18th time.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, October 08, 2024 - 05:07 pm: Edit

TUESDAY 8 OCT -- DAY 71
Leanna took me to my surgery appointment, then lunch. While the wound was small(half an inch) it threw me into shock, and after 5 minutes at the office I had to go home and get some sleep.
I will get some exercise and rest later.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, October 09, 2024 - 07:25 pm: Edit

WEDNESDAY 9 OCT -- DAY 72
I had my physical therapy evaluation. Good news. I am making great progress but my insurance company still needs to pay for more weeks of therapy. There is a key test; six weeks ago I took 52 seconds, three weeks ago 27 seconds, and today 17 seconds.
Rested, did exercises.
The site of the skin cancer surgery itches furiously and being on my neck gets stretched (painfully) every time I turn my head.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 10, 2024 - 11:52 pm: Edit

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER -- DAY 73
Leanna drove me to family dinner with Albert, Jean, and Steve Petrick. I got very tired very fast and had to be taken home for a nap. Then the home health nurse showed up to determine if I was alive or dead (waiting for that report). I took another nap, did my exercises, and took another nap.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, October 12, 2024 - 03:53 am: Edit

FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER — DAY 74
Leanna drove me to lunch. We then went to the office where I answered some emails and spoke with the team.
I got tired very fast, so Leanna put me into the car.
She had to do the grocery run and I convinced her to leave me in the car with the windows open on a 90F day. Thirty minutes later I was very sick. I got home and went to bed and slept seven hours.
I never did my exercises.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, October 12, 2024 - 09:30 pm: Edit

SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER -- DAY 75
Leanna cooked turkey which I and the cats enjoyed.
I slept a lot and did my exercises.
Packages arrived with the Halloween costumes for Leanna and Jean.They will dress as medieval ladies to match the knight in armor costumes Albert and I will wear. I just need to get off the walker in the next 19 days.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 14, 2024 - 06:07 am: Edit

SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER -- DAY 76
I am running into severe sleep deprivation issues despite the fact that Saturday and Sunday I slept almost 12 hours each. The problem is that due to various medical issues I only sleep about 45-60 minutes at any stretch, meaning I never get to the deep Stage-IV sleep. So my body is dying of thirst while swimming in a freshwater lake.
So Sunday I slept a lot and didn't do any exercises.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 - 12:46 am: Edit

MONDAY 14 OCTOBER— DAY 77
Still suffering from sleep deprivation, but I focused on the intervals when I was awake and did my exercises. I staggered my liquid intake to get some longer naps.

I was able to take eight shuffling steps without any support. I could manage a cane pretty well for short distances. For the first time in weeks I really think I'm going to recover.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 17, 2024 - 01:13 am: Edit

TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER— DAY 78
I went to a group therapy session to cheer myself up. This included three veterans, a fireman, and some dude from a Norwegian motorcycle gang. We ended up spending most of the session discussing disaster relief.
I did my exercises and a lot of walkering.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 17, 2024 - 01:26 am: Edit

WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER — DAY 79
I had an appointment with my cardiologist, making a point to thank him for saving my life nine years ago. He said that my heart was fine so something had caused my dizzy spell by causing a blood pressure drop. He adjusted my medication. I had a coughing fit and he asked about it. I noted that I had suffered such attacks for many years and no doctor had cured it. He said that one of my long term medications had a rare side effect of causing mysterious coughs. So he said to suspend it for three weeks and come back to see him.
Leanna took me to church supper where I met all of the friends I had made in the past year: Pastor Howie, Pastor Robbie, senior leader Gay Mills, discussion leader Karen, food service director Kaleena and her husband John, assistant coordinator Callie as well as her father Jay, daughters Kayleigh and Addison, chef Brian, and so many others.
My niece Angela visited, and humorously called for me to stand up and walk. I stood up and took four short steps. Jean and Angela declared it a miracle.